How Colorado beat Georgia Tech with blocked FG despite not having a special teams coordinator

Colorado picked up a big Week 1 victory to kick off Deion Sanders' fourth season as head coach, scraping by Georgia Tech 14-13.

The Buffaloes struggled to score all night, but then came away with the game-winning touchdown late in the game. When the Yellow Jackets were quickly able to get into field-goal range, Colorado's special teams unit came up big with the game-saving play.

What makes the win more impressive is that it was Colorado's first without a special teams coordinator. Sanders decided not to fill the position as part of a slew of coaching staff changes in the offseason, and that gamble has so far paid off.

Here's how Colorado came away with the late-game win. MORE: Inside Colorado's QB depth chart

Colorado beats Georgia Tech with blocked kick

Colorado survived Week 1 against Georgia Tech thanks to a game-saving play from its special teams unit. The Buffaloes scored a late touchdown to take a one-point lead with under a minute left, but surrendered a big play to the Yellow Jackets that put Georgia Tech in field goal position.

As Georgia Tech kicker Aidan Birr attempted the game-winning kick, the Buffaloes successfully blocked the attempt to escape with the win.

Why doesn't Colorado have a special team coordinator

Prior to the season, Deion Sanders announced that the team would not have a dedicated special teams coordinator in 2026. Instead, Sanders is having each of his assistants help chip in with special teams coordinator duties.

Uncle Neely, who hosts Thee Pregame Show, confirmed that Sanders decided on the collabortive approach.

"What he's taken in this [year's] approach is more ownership as far as the coaches that you depend on to feed into special teams," Neely said in March . "The guys who coach the [defensive backs], the guys who coach the tight ends, the guys who coach the linebackers, etcetera, they're all now having a say in special teams."

Neely did add that tight ends coach Josh Niblett was likely to have more of a say in special teams duties than most other assistants. MORE: What to know about Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy trial

Who was Colorado's special teams coordinator last year?

Colorado's special teams coordinator in 2025 was Michael Pollock, who had worked under Sanders for the previous five years. Pollock began with Sanders at Jackson State and moved to Boulder with him in 2023.

Pollock said he understood that the change was coming after a disappointing 3-9 season and the split was amicable between both sides.